BackgroundGlobal increase in ambient temperatures
constitute a significant challenge to wild and cultivated plant species.
Forward genetic analyses of individual temperature-responsive traits
have resulted in the identification of several signaling and response
components. However, a comprehensive knowledge about temperature
sensitivity of different developmental stages and the contribution of
natural variation is still scarce and fragmented at best.ResultsHere, we
systematically analyze thermomorphogenesis throughout a complete life
cycle in ten natural Arabidopsis thaliana accessions grown under long
day conditions in four different temperatures ranging from 16 to 28 °C.
We used Q10, GxE, phenotypic divergence and correlation analyses to
assess temperature sensitivity and genotype effects of more than 30
morphometric and developmental traits representing five phenotype
classes. We found that genotype and temperature differentially affected
plant growth and development with variing strengths. Furthermore,
overall correlations among phenotypic temperature responses was
relatively low which seems to be caused by differential capacities for
temperature adaptations of individual
accessions.ConclusionGenotype-specific temperature responses may be
attractive targets for future forward genetic approaches and
accession-specific thermomorphogenesis maps may aid the assessment of
functional relevance of known and novel regulatory components.

BackgroundPlant adaptation to limited phosphate availability
comprises a wide range of responses to conserve and remobilize internal
phosphate sources and to enhance phosphate acquisition. Vigorous
restructuring of root system architecture provides a developmental
strategy for topsoil exploration and phosphate scavenging. Changes in
external phosphate availability are locally sensed at root tips and
adjust root growth by modulating cell expansion and cell division. The
functionally interacting Arabidopsis genes, LOW PHOSPHATE RESPONSE 1 and
2 (LPR1/LPR2) and PHOSPHATE DEFICIENCY RESPONSE 2 (PDR2), are key
components of root phosphate sensing. We recently demonstrated that the
LOW PHOSPHATE RESPONSE 1 - PHOSPHATE DEFICIENCY RESPONSE 2 (LPR1-PDR2)
module mediates apoplastic deposition of ferric iron (Fe3+) in the
growing root tip during phosphate limitation. Iron deposition coincides
with sites of reactive oxygen species generation and triggers cell wall
thickening and callose accumulation, which interfere with cell-to-cell
communication and inhibit root growth.ResultsWe took advantage of
the opposite phosphate-conditional root phenotype of the phosphate
deficiency response 2 mutant (hypersensitive) and low phosphate response
1 and 2 double mutant (insensitive) to investigate the phosphate
dependent regulation of gene and protein expression in roots using
genome-wide transcriptome and proteome analysis. We observed an
overrepresentation of genes and proteins that are involved in the
regulation of iron homeostasis, cell wall remodeling and reactive oxygen
species formation, and we highlight a number of candidate genes with a
potential function in root adaptation to limited phosphate availability.
Our experiments reveal that FERRIC REDUCTASE DEFECTIVE 3 mediated,
apoplastic iron redistribution, but not intracellular iron uptake and
iron storage, triggers phosphate-dependent root growth modulation. We
further highlight expressional changes of several cell wall-modifying
enzymes and provide evidence for adjustment of the pectin network at
sites of iron accumulation in the root.ConclusionOur study
reveals new aspects of the elaborate interplay between phosphate
starvation responses and changes in iron homeostasis. The results
emphasize the importance of apoplastic iron redistribution to mediate
phosphate-dependent root growth adjustment and suggest an important role
for citrate in phosphate-dependent apoplastic iron transport. We
further demonstrate that root growth modulation correlates with an
altered expression of cell wall modifying enzymes and changes in the
pectin network of the phosphate-deprived root tip, supporting the
hypothesis that pectins are involved in iron binding and/or phosphate
mobilization.